8. Fiona
8
FIONA
F iona spread notes across her desk as Caleb and her brainstormed about the festival. "We need entertainment, food vendors, and activities for the kids."
"No outside vendors." Caleb leaned against her filing cabinet, arms crossed. "Too risky."
"You can't seriously expect to feed everyone with just pack members' cooking."
"Watch me."
The pencil in Fiona's hand sparked, a tiny flame dancing along its edge. She set it down before it could catch fire. "Fine. But you're helping me coordinate the food prep teams."
"Done." His lips twitched. "The flame thing - does that happen often?"
"Only when stubborn alphas get under my skin." She shuffled through her papers. "What about music?"
"Pack band."
"You have a pack band?"
"Three actually."
Fiona looked up, catching the hint of pride in his voice. "That's... actually perfect. We can rotate them through sets." She made a note, her handwriting flowing across the page. "But we still need activities. Face painting, games, maybe some craft stations?"
"No paint near the wolves."
"Why not?"
"Ever tried getting paint out of fur?"
The mental image of a rainbow-colored wolf made her snort. "Fair point. But we need something interactive."
Caleb pushed off from the cabinet and circled her desk, peering at her notes. His presence sent a wave of warmth through her. "What about a strength competition? Log tossing, arm wrestling..."
"Because nothing says 'family friendly' like testosterone-fueled displays of dominance."
"My pack would actually love it."
"We're trying to show you care about more than just strength, remember?"
"Then what do you suggest?"
"Both." Fiona tapped her pencil against the desk. "We'll have the strength games, but also set up areas for storytelling, art displays, maybe even a talent show. Show that you value all aspects of pack life."
Caleb was quiet for a moment, studying her face. "That could work."
Fiona weaved through the community center after their brainstorming session, clipboard in hand. The familiar rush of organizing a major event hummed through her veins, not unlike the sensation of her fire magic.
"So, you'll handle the setup crew?" She stopped at the front desk where Wade was checking the security cameras.
"Got it covered." He scribbled his name on her sign-up sheet. "Though I still can't believe the boss agreed to this."
"Speaking of the boss." Caleb's scent - pine and autumn leaves - reached her before his voice did. "How's the volunteer hunting going?"
"Better than expected." She turned, finding him closer than anticipated. "Though we still need someone to coordinate the talent show portion."
"Talent show?" Wade's eyebrows shot up. "Since when are we doing that?"
"Since our event planner here insisted we need more than just wolves throwing heavy objects around." Caleb's blue eyes fixed on her clipboard. "You're good at this. Almost like you've done it before."
Heat crept up Fiona's neck. "Well, about that..."
"Wait." A smile tugged at his lips. "What exactly did you say you did back in Boston?"
"Event coordination and management," she muttered.
"That's what your resume said. But what kind of events?"
Fiona squared her shoulders. "Weddings, okay? I was a wedding planner. But that sounds so-"
"Perfect," Caleb cut in. "You literally managed the most stressful events possible while dealing with emotional families and tight deadlines."
"And bridezillas," Wade added.
"Trust me, an angry bride is scarier than any wolf." Fiona relaxed as both men chuckled.
"Though I haven't had any of them try to bite me. Yet."
"Day's still young." Caleb took her clipboard, adding his name to several spots. "And you've got two weeks to turn this place into whatever vision you've got cooking in that head of yours."
"Speaking of cooking-" She snatched the clipboard back, their fingers brushing. "You still need to give me that list of pack members who can handle food prep without burning down the kitchen."
"Unlike some people here, we wolves don't typically start fires."
"No, you just shed all over everything."
Wade coughed, poorly hiding his laugh. "I'll just... go check the perimeter."
Several minutes later, Fiona watched from across the room as Caleb knelt beside a small girl with pigtails, his broad frame somehow shrinking to become less intimidating. The child clutched a worn stuffed wolf to her chest.
"Show me what happened, Sophie," he said, his usual gruff tone softening.
The girl held up the toy, revealing a torn seam. "I was practicing shifting and-" Her bottom lip trembled.
"Hey now, that's an easy fix." Caleb produced a small sewing kit from a craft drawer nearby. Fiona's eyebrows shot up as his large hands made surprisingly delicate work of the repair. "See? Good as new. Keep practicing - you'll get the hang of it."
Sophie beamed, hugging the toy before scampering off. Fiona pretended to be absorbed in her clipboard when Caleb approached her again.
"You know how to sew?" She couldn't keep the amusement from her voice.
"Pack kids are rough on their stuff." He shrugged.
Before she could respond, Mrs. Chen shuffled up with a Tupperware container. "Alpha, I made those oatmeal cookies you like."
"Mrs. Chen, you didn't have to-"
"Nonsense. You're too skinny." She pressed the container into his hands and led him across the room to inspect some designs for the talent show sign.
Throughout the late afternoon, Fiona noticed more moments like these. Caleb helping a teenager with math homework, listening patiently to an old man's fishing stories, breaking up a squabble between twin boys with firm kindness. Each interaction revealed a different facet of him, like light catching crystal.
The warmth in her chest grew stronger. This was the real Caleb - not the suspicious, growling alpha who'd first interviewed her, but a leader who sewed up stuffed animals and ate old ladies' cookies and remembered everyone's names and stories.
"You're staring," Wade whispered as he passed by.
Fiona jumped, her clipboard clattering to the floor. "I was not. I was... supervising."
"Right." Wade's knowing smirk made her cheeks flush. "Supervising."
Later that evening, Fiona gathered the last of her papers, tucking them into her messenger bag as the community center's motion-sensor lights dimmed around them.
"Thanks for staying late," she said to Caleb, who was locking up the supply closet. "Even if you did veto half of my other ideas."
"I vetoed the bad ones." He pocketed the keys. "Like the dunk tank."
"It would've been hilarious."
"In October?"
"Some of us can control fire, you know." She wiggled her fingers, a tiny flame dancing between them. "I could've heated the water."
"And risk burning someone's tail off? Pass."
The lights suddenly blazed to full brightness as Wade burst through the front doors, his boots squeaking against the freshly mopped floor. Fiona's heart jumped into her throat.
"Cale," Wade's breath came in short bursts. "Three Nightfang wolves circling the north border. They're getting bolder."
The playful atmosphere evaporated. Caleb's shoulders tensed, his jaw tightening. "How close?"
"Quarter mile from the Wilson farm."
"Damn it." Caleb ran a hand through his dark hair.
Fiona's fingers twitched with unused magic. "I could help-"
"No." Both men said simultaneously.
"Why not? I can handle myself."
"Because," Caleb stepped closer, his voice dropping. "If Victor sees us working with a witch, he'll use it against us with the elders. Traditional wolves don't trust magic users."
"That's ridiculous. I've been managing your community center for days."
"Managing events is different than fighting pack battles." Wade shifted his weight. "Cale, we need to move."
"Right." Caleb grabbed his jacket. "Fiona, go straight home. No detours."
She crossed her arms. "I'm not some damsel who needs protecting."
"No," his blue eyes locked with hers, "you're someone I-" he caught himself, "someone the pack needs to keep safe. Please."
The 'please' surprised her more than anything else. Heat crept into her face.
"Fine," she huffed. "But only because you said please."
Wade cleared his throat. "If you two are done with... whatever this is..."
"We're going." Caleb headed for the doors, then paused. "Lock up behind us?"
Fiona nodded, watching as both men disappeared into the growing darkness. She touched her face where she could still feel the warmth of Caleb’s gaze.
"Someone you what?" she whispered to the empty room.
The front doors creaked open a few minutes later, just as Fiona reached for the main light switch, making her jump. A small flame sparked between her fingers instinctively.
"Just me." Caleb's head poked through the entrance. "Sorry, didn't mean to startle you."
"Geez." Fiona extinguished the flame with a flick of her wrist. "I thought you were heading to the border."
"I am, but-" He stepped inside fully, his broad shoulders blocking the doorway. The motion sensor lights cast shadows across his face, highlighting the worry lines around his eyes. "Listen, Victor's going to try something stupid. I can feel it. And my people..." He trailed off, jaw clenching.
"What are you planning?" The knot in Fiona's stomach tightened. She'd only known him a short while, but that look spelled trouble.
"I'm going to try and talk to him. Negotiate."
"You're what?" Heat rushed to Fiona's face. "The same Victor who's been vandalizing your property and threatening your pack?"
"Better than waiting for him to hurt someone." His blue eyes met hers, determination written across his features. "Wade's already setting up the meeting."
Something in his tone made Fiona's chest constrict. "You really think he'll listen?"
"Probably not." A wry smile crossed his face. "But I have to try."
"Just-" Fiona stepped closer, close enough to catch his scent of pine and autumn leaves. "Be careful, okay? Victor seems like the type to bring backup to a peaceful meeting."
"Worried about me, Red?"
"No," she lied, fighting the blush creeping up her neck. "I just don't want to have to train another boss. The paperwork would be terrible."
His laugh echoed through the empty community center. "I'll do my best not to create extra work for you."
"You better." She crossed her arms, trying to look stern despite the flutter in her stomach. "And don't call me Red."